Gun-sight



E. F. WATSON. GUN SlGHT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25.19l9. 1,319,313, Patented Oct-21,1919.

5 vwe nib z 14 F W y 0120 2464, fla i EARLE F. WATSON, 0F DUMONT, NEW JERSEY.

GUN-SIGHT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 25, 1919. Serial No. 273,006.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARLE F. WA'rsoN, a citizen of the United States, residincr at Dumont, in the county of Bergen and tate of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gun-Sights, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gun sights and particularly to luminous sights for use in the night time. One object of the invention is to provide attachments carrying 00- operative luminous sights and fitting over the day sights and gun barrel in such a way as to be firmly and accurately held in position and yet easily attached and removed. Another object relates to positioning the luminous sights on the gun so that they shall not project therefrom to an inconvenient or undesirable extent.

In the accompanying drawing a specific embodiment of the invention is illustrated as applied to a Colt automatic magazine pistol.

Figure 1 is a side view of the barrel provided with the attachments of this invention. 7

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the front sight attachment in place.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the rear sight attachment in place.

Fig. 4C is a vertical section on enlarged scale of the front luminous element support, and

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4:, but showin a modification.

In the em odiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, 5 is the barrel and 6 and 7 respectively the ordinary front and rear day sights. Over the front sight 6 is fitted the attachment 10 having side spring mem bers 11 and a slot 12 to receive the day sight. The side springs 11 have curved ends engaging under the lower edges of the barrel to hold the attachment in place and spreading of these springs permits the attachment to be easily slipped on or off the barrel. From the rear of attachment 10, there is bent up a neck 15 supporting at its end a down turned lip 16 on which is placed the lLHDlIlOllS sight element 20 between side flanges 17 turned up on the lip 16. 0

In the particular form of my invention shown in the drawings, the luminous element 20 comprises a glass bead containing luminous material and held in a metal holder 21 which has a slot 22 through which the light of the bead can be seen. During aiming this front sight slot appears to stand between horizontal rear sights on each side of it. It is desirable to have this front sight slot substantially in line with the front day sight so that the sight line may be the same for the night sights as for the day sights, and it is also desirable that the sights shall project a very little distance from the barrel so that they will interfere Very little if at allwith putting the pistol in its holster or Withdrawing it therefrom. The support 16 for the luminous element of the front sight is therefore arranged low, close to the barrel and inclined so as to adjust the luminous slot more nearly in alinement with the day sight.

It is also important that the rear luminous sights be supported accurately in line with the rear day sights and for this pur-. pose attachment 30 is provided comprising the U-shaped member slotted at 32 to fit accurately over the rear day sight 7 and held in place on the rear of the barrel by the side spring members 33 having catches 34: and 35 engaging under the bottom ledges of the barrel and lips 36 and 37 bent around to the rear of the barrel. In order to make these spring members easily spread to position and remove the attachment the lip 37 a on the left and the catch 35 on the right are extended and curved to form finger holds. Pressure against these finger holds may be applied by the fingers and will spread the side springs and permit the attachment to be readily removed and replaced.

The luminous elements of the rear sight are shown at 38 formed similar to the front sight element 20 but arranged one on each side of the rear sight notch 39 and with the luminous slots horizontal. The support for these luminous rear sights is a lip 40 bent up from the slot and inclined forward so as to fit against the day sight and position the luminous elements accurately in line therewith.

As the night approaches and darkness increases so that the day sights become obscure it is only necessary to slip the attachments of this invention into place and the luminous elements will be quickly and accurately positioned so that the luminous sights will replace the ordinary day sights without change of the line of sight and without disturbing any of the settings or requiring any Patented Oct. 21, 1919.

calculations or allowance on the part of the aimer. fit neatly without troublesome protuberances and are held securely in place against accidental displacement. The gun can readily be put in its holster or withdrawn with the luminous sights in place, but with no more interference than for the day sights alone. This cooperation of the gun with the holster is facilitated by the oblique position of the projecting members carrying the luminous elements.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modified form of luminous sight applied to the front sight at tachment. The neck 15 and lip 16' are bent at an angle, as in Fig. 4, but the holder 21' for the luminous bead is fastened to the underside of the lip 16 and the side flanges 17 are directed downwardly, or if preferred, they may be directed upwardly, the slot 22 for the luminous element to shine through being in the lip 16. This modified form gives a smooth outline and protects the luminous element, and with the slight rounding all (Fig. l) of the extreme front edge of the barrel produces an even contour easily sliding in and out of the holster.

I claim 1. The combination with a firearm of a sight therefor comprising a detachable member having a central rearwardly directcd extension carrying a luminous element and bent to position said element in alinement with the day sights of said firearm.

2. The combination with a firearm of a front sight therefor comprising a detachable member having a slotted extension car rying a luminous element visible through the slot in said extension, said extension being bent to incline said element in alinement with the front daysight of said firearm.

3. The combination with a fire arm of a sight therefor comprising a detachable mem At the same time the attachments ber fitting closely to the contour of the parts of the firearm barrel to which it is attached, a luminous element, and an extension on said sight having a downwardly bent portion bringing its end near the body of the fire arm and serving to position and protect the luminous element and provide smooth contour for easy sliding in and out of a holster.

In combination, a fire arm, a detachable front night sight, and a detachable rear night sight, the latter having spring wings to clamp down at the sides and two lugs bent across from one of said wings at the rear, one lug to serve as an abutment to give said rear sight a definite position longitudinally and the other lug spaced farther to the rear to serve as a finger hold for manipulation of said rear sight.

5. In combination, a fire arm, a detachable front night sight, and a detachable rear night sight, the latter having spring wings to clamp down at the sides and two lugs bent across from one of said wings at the rear, one lug to serve as an abutment to give said rear sight a definite position longitudinally and the other lug spaced farther to the rear to serve as a finger hold for manipulation of said rear sight, the other wing having its lower edge turned out to afford an additional linger hold.

6. A detachable rear night sight for a fire arm consisting of an inverted U shaped sheet metal piece, a self luminous element carried thereby, elastic wing portions closely holding the sight to the barrel of said firearm and a finger piece spaced from the firearm and overhanging the rear end of said barrel, so that said firearm with said detachable sight may be easily inserted and re moved from the holster and the sight may be released from said barrel by pressure on said finger piece.

EARLE F. \VATSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

